
Cape Town, South Africa
DATES
Concordia College Athletics Service Trip
Sport for Development
Internship Overview
Key Info
In South Africa, we have built a Sport for Development Internship Program available to both athletes and non-athletes. Students are placed with one of the many innovative, non-profit organizations in Cape Town that use sports to advance the prosperity of the community. Students will engage deeply with their partner organization, and also gain a broad knowledge of the sport for development scene in Cape Town.
DATES
Registration Deadline: February 1st, 2020
Highlights
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Choose from a dozen different inspiring sport for development organizations in Cape Town.
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Keep up with off-season training alongside athletes from across the U.S.
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Make a lasting impact in the community through your internship and service projects
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Enjoy Cape Town’s vibrant city life, amazing beaches, and an endless list of weekend activities.
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Day trips included: Hiking Table Mountain, wildlife safari, Robben Island Tour, Boulder’s Beach to see African Penguins
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Weekend excursion to Wilderness Beach along the Indian Ocean
About Sport for Development
Sport for Development, also known as Sports-Based Youth Development, is a method to bring social change to youth in underprivileged communities by using sports as a tool to bring people together and teach lifelong skills. Our partners in Cape Town all share the common belief that sports have the power to create positive peer-to-peer relations and stimulate a desire for self-improvement.
Each organization that we work with takes a unique approach to sport for development-- whether it’s a soccer program dedicated to teaching youth about HIV/AIDs awareness, a basketball program keeping kids away from gangs, or a boxing program teaching girls about self-defense and women’s empowerment--all these programs share the singular vision that sports have the power to change the world, one community at a time.
Program Description
We partner with sport for development non-profit organizations in Cape Town to provide hands-on internships. The work includes a combination of supporting the organization’s daily operations and completing an independent project to address a specific challenge. Example internship projects include event planning, website and social media improvement, newsletters system design, grant writing, monitoring and evaluation systems, and partnership development.
Daily Schedule: Mornings are dedicated to project with fellow students and SAA staff in a lab setting at Inyathelo: The South Africa Institute for Advancement. In the afternoon, you will visit your organization’s site to help with operations and better understand the potential implementation of your project.
Housing
Students stay in the dorm style accommodations and are provided breakfast and dinner seven days a week. The dorms include a shared kitchen and WiFi accessibility. And laundry is available once per week.
Athletics Abroad
You will have a gym membership at the Sport Institute of South Africa, so can maintain your training by working out 4-5x per week.
Excursions
Our local staff will take you on weekend excursions which include: hiking Table Mountain, visiting Robben Island, a Wildlife Safari, visiting beaches to see African Penguins, and a weekend away at Wilderness Beach.





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Submit completed Online Application Form
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Interview with SAA staff member
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Approval from university if from a non-affiliate partner school
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Submit Supplemental item(s): Current resume
Upon admission to the program, you will connect with our site director for more information about the internship placement process.
We offer partial scholarships based on merit and financial need. Learn more by connecting with someone from our team at info@saabroad.com.
What's Included?
Program Cost: $4,995
Included
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8 nights lodging
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3 meals daily
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Community service activities
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Student-Athletes Abroad local staff
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International health insurance (GeoBlue)
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All transportation in South Africa
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Day Trip Safari
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Table Mountain Hike
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Museum entrance fees
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Guest speakers
Not Included
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Round-trip airfare (estimated at $1,200-$1,500 per person and quoted separately based on confirmed group travel dates)
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Extra spending money (snacks and souvenirs)
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Applicable passport fees
Student Testimonials
There were many things I loved about this internship, but I would have to say the girls and the staff member's stories and accepting attitudes towards us and their willingness to share their culture had to be my favorite part. If I ever get the opportunity to go back to Cape Town I would not hesitate to contact the friends that I made there and go and visit.
- Emma Patterson, SAA 2017

The value of working hands on with the children was beyond rewarding, especially given the ability to work on a project to support the organization (GCU) that I was linked with. While doing so, learning the importance of cultural competence was very valuable as well. I also highly enjoyed the weekend excursions, these were adrenaline rushing activities that I never thought I would have the blessing of experiencing! The live safari animals, shark cage diving, and hiking table mountain are the three experiences that completely took my breath away. In the small state of Ohio we are unable to gain such rich experiences! I also want to highlight the value of simply traveling abroad with a program that accommodates athletes. If it was not for SAA, due to basketball, I would never have had the opportunity to travel abroad! Thank you again, SAA!
- MacKenzi Matthews, SAA 2018